Think of all the ways that the United States — under Trump’s presidency, and with the support of the Republicans,— has gone in directions that are the opposite of those that have long defined “America.” With “America” defined as the ideal image of America that expresses our long-standing ideals for what a nation should be:
“liberty and justice for all,” “consent of the governed,” “a nation of laws not of men,” “leader of the free world.”In all those ways, Trump has made America not “America.”
And in all those ways, Trump provides the Democrats with abundant material they can use to flesh out the slogan “Make America America Again.” (Or MAAA, as it would appear in white letters on the blue hat.)
It is not only a nifty slogan — in turning Trump’s MAGA hat against itself, since there’s no restored “greatness” that Trump can claim. It also captures what is truly the essential issue of the 2020 Election.
Across the board, what we have seen is an erosion of the fundamental values that have always defined American greatness:
At home, “the rule of law” is being assaulted by the President — and his bag man of an Attorney General — on a daily basis.
Trump as President has steadfastly — and now successfully — fought to place himself above the law. (Instead, contrary to what “America” is about, he turns the law into a weapon to protect his power against his enemies. He makes us not into “a nation not of laws” but one ruled by the interests of one man.
The President’s Party in the Senate is making a mockery of our constitutional order which compelled them — as the condition of taking on the powers of their office — to pledge to “protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Make America America Again.
We see the opposite of the American ideal, as the President of the United States Is caught out repeatedly as a liar, a cheat, and a betrayer of the public trust— showing none of the integrity or “the spirit of public service” expected (and largely shown) by public officials in America over the generations.
Make America America Again.
On the world stage, America has forfeited its former pre-eminent standing in the world. The United States used to be described in terms of the U.S. being the world’s “indispensable” nation. But never has a great power been so dispensed with as now, when the nations we used to lead realize that the President of the United States no longer stands for the values of democracy and human rights.
America no longer acts like “the leader of the free world.” Not with a president who embraces thug rulers, and stiff-arms the leaders of decent and democratic societies.
Make America America Again.
The United States had often been a leader in getting nations together to confront problems that humankind can only address effectively through cooperation at a global level. But this President has made America into a monkey-wrench undermining such efforts:
with respect to humankind’s most profound global challenge at this moment — to deal with the oncoming train of climate disruption — this President made the U.S. the only nation in the world to reject a very important treaty (the Paris Accord on Climate Change). and the significant achievement of the Iran Nuclear deal -- that at the least bought us a good deal of time to prevent some possibly dangerous scenarios of confrontations involving nuclear weapons — Trump abandoned, contrary to the advice of his Secretaries of State and of Defense.Make America America Again
If I were running against Trump (and the Trump Party), I would bet that there is a substantial majority of Americans (at least 55-45) that wants our ruling powers to honor America’s basic values and not to betray them. A substantial majority that want our country to return to the path to which the nation has always aspired.
And to bring that purpose to the foreground of their minds, I would call out to them for their support in the coming election with the slogan: Make America America Again.